Stansted Airport in London recorded "strong passenger performance" in December 2022 as 1.85 million people travelled through the hub.
The number more than doubled the traffic for the same month in 2021 and came to 93% of December 2019., the airport reported on January 16. Traffic for 2022 came to over 23.3 million, taking the airport close to the roughly 25 million recorded in 2019, the last year before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing travel-inhibiting restrictions.
Managing director Gareth Powell said the numbers were "a great achievement, and testament to the strength of Stansted’s route network".
“This was the first festive season for three years without travel restrictions, so we were delighted to welcome so many passengers, and I’m equally pleased we were able to provide a strong operational and security performance during such a busy period," he added.
On January 17, Powell lauded the announcement by Emirates that it would fly twice-daily from Gatwick to Dubai.
"The return of Emirates' second daily flight to Dubai is exciting news for passengers and a huge boost for London Stansted Airport, London and the East of England" and "a demonstration of the airline's confidence in the demand for long-haul travel from the airport", Powell said.
“Since we recommenced services to and from Stansted in August 2022, bookings have continued to surge from the London hub," said Richard Jewell of Emirates UK.